Dovetail Games Bought By Focus Entertainment

And they didn't even manage that when they started making it. One of the largest issues facing TS is the duplication of assets and trains with each having different feature sets. Look at how many BR101 and 294s there are, and especially the BR101 has been upgraded slowly over time but the original version is still the same - I have a dozen of them and I don't even know which ones have safety systems or a cab light! The complaints of inconsistency in TSW now are caused by the identical decision when developing the game, by having trains and assets kept in route packs.

Common sense would have made TSW work a bit like Just Trains DLCs for TS, where there is a large asset pack for all routes supplemented with individual asset packs for each route. Ideally TSW would work like this:
1: Player buys [generic German route]
2: German asset pack, BR185 pack, BR146 pack, Doppelstock pack; added to game
3: Updates to BR185 pack will apply to everything using it

Having independent assets would have not only cut down on disk space and memory usage but the amount of time doing duplicate updates to the same train, and crucially having trains with different feature sets depending on which route you got. No matter if you got RSN or [another route with the BR185 in it, I don't play this game enough to remember] they should both have the definitive versions of the trains inside.

 

Sam isn't the only one who left DTG Adam Lucas did also as for why I don't know

 

If you include all the stuff I own in TSC then it already is saturated. Even routes like West Highland or Kyle which, 20 years ago we would have been frothing at the mouth to play, now get a trip or two each way then buried under the weight of everything else. Set against that, why pay (now) £30 for something that’s just going to get the same treatment. I was going to give BCC another shot in TSW but having driven the TSC version end to end getting thoroughly bored with start stop 20 times or more, really not much point. And that’s before you throw in other stuff like the flight sims or Snowrunner where I still have to finish off the original Russian map let alone all the DLC from the season passes. So wherever TSW (and TSC) go, it’s really going to have to be something unique and captivating going forward.

 

FWIW In my opinion this game needs to be for trains what MSFS is for aircraft.

It needs to be a faithful simulation of the real world. It needs different game modes (why do we not have, given we have a timetable, driver shift patterns to drive? A day in the life of etc. somewhere to check in, get given your days work, walk to the unit, set it up etc), the player needs the option to totally disable things like action points and collectibles, it needs multiplayer and it needs to offer a feature set from graphics to controllers that reflect the fact that it’s 2023. It needs more variety and a more useful and in-depth dispatcher (again, given they can push out updates so easily, why not push out route changes to reflect real world works on the line; temporary speed limits, single line running etc etc).

It needs opening up to the ‘community’ just like MSFS. There should be an in-game store where developers can make, and you can purchase, highly detailed versions of stations / yards / cities / timetables / AI trains etc, alongside third party routes, rolling stock and sound sets. It needs the editor / SDK to made publically available (just like other UE4 games) but above all else it needs to prioritise quality and consistancy over quantity.

 

Found workshop scenarios on German stuff is keeping me going now better than TSW timetable mode. Some good stuff out there.

 

This is sad :-(
Such a jolly fella and afaik he has been with DTG since CSX:HH

 

I knew Sam had left, which I am sad about. I hope he still does some videos on his CF channel. I miss his chat and personality.

I didn’t know Adam DTGs senior producer had left. He is another that will be missed on the streams. In the last few months, although Natalie hasn’t left, she with Sam and Adam have all be missed on the streaming programs.

 

Well as the first action that is taken is make the French TGV route free, to me that is an indication there is a sense of national pride involved. Not saying that everyone has started speaking French at DTG and will start pumping out French routes like they do with the TSW triad. Let's just say the chances of a French route being made have risen. As someone pointed licensing is an issue with French routes. More relations might come available for DTG to talk and work with.

 

He was with the company from Kuju days IIRC. Great guy, helped sort out several issues with a couple of my freeware routes.

 

Lol brings back good memories of autoracks falling into the ether.

 

Not wishing to start any rumours, but has anyone seen JD these past couple of weeks? Hopefully he's on holiday!

Talking of Nat, does anyone know how well the boardgame thing has done or was received? - Not really my area of interest, but sort of surprised that there was not at least one stream trying to cross sell it to the trainsim community

 

I didn’t know that. It’s probably linked to the buyout but we can’t be certain of that. It would be a complex situation when you are an employee but also a shareholder I guess.

 

I think it would be good to see a UK to France route, not like we haven't had tunnel based routes before. I would also like to see the animated digger from TSC appear, alongside a newap and more npc out of. Stations

 

I’m surprised this didn’t get noted more vocally TBH. Wasn’t JD Community Manager?

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/hi-im-the-new-guy.69455/

 

JD is still here...
Our thread-locking, post-redacting ( and TSW-leaking ) beloved community director is here on the forums, doing his usual stuff

Still don't believe me ?!
Just check the threads that've recently been locked XD

 

That could easily be someone else using his login. I thought his role was Community Manager, which has recently got a new incumbent.

 

He has been the director of community.

 

This thread has generated a real rumor mill. I suppose it was inevitable.

I'm no white knight, but I would, however, ask people to avoid making speculative or unfounded posts about DTG employees. It is inappropriate and could cause genuine hurt and offense. Remember, they are human beings with friends and families.

Let's keep our comments about the takeover and its impact on the game free of this kind of rumor mongering.

 

I've been demanding this since the days of TSW2. Every loco treated like a loco DLC which we already have (as proof that it's possible), where a single update on a single DLC impacts every layer and every route the loco works on. Of course, that's risky, but it works so far like a charm for locos like the BR101, the so far mostly subbed in loco in all of TSW. So why not with everything else ?

When they switched to TSW3, that was my biggest hope. That the DLC would be split like this.

I am tired of having so many versions of the same train. Luckily, these days there are surprisingly few different versions of the exact same loco, and most reused locos get at least a different livery.

But still. There needs to be a change on that front going forward.

 

Glad to hear you are still here, that's good - just wondered given the new member of the community team

 

It's nearly summer JD, you've got 2022 leak to top yet......

 

You pay your money and take the chance that something further down the line will be given away very cheaply or even free, especially when it comes to games and dlc. If someone buys a game, they run the risk of it becoming a "free" game on PS Plus or Gamepass one day.. it is frustrating but that's life.

The free route(s) across TSW and TSC are a gesture of goodwill and not a requirement.

I can't wait to pick up the free route, I purchased it when I had a PS5 but now I'm on Xbox I haven't got around to picking it up, lucky me..

 

If DTG wants to go big this just might get the channel tunnel put on the fast track to development.It's kinda the perfect future project.With a company in france getting together with a company in the UK,it be a great way to connect the two companies just like the way the channel tunnel has already done.

 

Didn't get anything new since last summer, still playing TSW2. I will try LGV if it's for free, because I'm fan of highspeed and European routes but won't pay the full price for old DLC's. Hope that Focus will bring us and DTG some good.

 

Prolly not the channel tunnel as its just 30 mins of nothing

 

Doesn't stop people from suggesting it over and over again. Sounds like one of the most boring routes one could possibly suggest.

 

I think if they done the tunnel we could likely see a longer route with it. As the tunnel would take up (insert length) and 25 minutes of route length for something not really route building heavy.

 

[Removed - JD - personal targeting]

Since what is hapenning with the TSW is a real Shame!

 

Charming person you are.

 

He's one interesting note about the TSW TGV power cab units.Unlike most HST types in the game which can't be uncoupled from there trains power unints the TGV's can and be hooked up most german or UK wagons,creating yourself a HST freight train.

 

I'm not a train expert this week; I'm a business acquisition expert

 

I just found out he left in March.

 

The channel tunnel not all just miles or km of nothing theres stations and rail yards on both ends so depending how far DTG goes outside each end of the tunnel there could be more to do and see on each side of the chunnel.

You want to compare this to something that both simular and different OK. The TGV route is 51 miles long with most of it being the great outdoors between two stops with one stop in between,so if replace the great outdoors with a tunnel and ditch the center station you traveling fast and a long way for a with just less to see.

Think of all the trains in the game that you could drive thru the chunnel that normally never get to use it.

Just think of it as a subway with less annoying frequent stops.

 

I’ll suggest you to keep quiet if you don’t know what you’re talking about. Mr Pink cat eared headset is definitely not the cause of what’s currently happening with TSW he’s very active on the forums and he listens to our requests/reports.

 

I don't think anyoone outside DTG can say what Matt's responsibility for TSW's state is.

 

Hopefully they’ll continue to improve the game more and more and most importantly focus a lot more developing British routes and rolling stock.

 

If FOCUS ENTERTAINMENT is going to can anyone they should start at the top with DTG CEO he make the decisions that affect ever part of the companies efforts.But make no mistakes about it everyone every single person from top person to the crew that sweeps the floor will get evaluated by F.E. at some point and if you haven't been doing your part up to a professional level you could find yourself outside the door for good.And that includes everyone currently working at DTG.

 

Not to mention ongoing doubts as to whether they could get Eurostar licensing.

 

DTG has been cranking as many DLC as possible in 2023 to up it's value but the content been released broken and unfinished.This doesn't sound like a good plan to impresses your new owners.

 

Maybe Focus Entertainment can help with that effort.

 

It will become TSW3 = Tunnel Sim World 3

 

Wait wasn't there already another route in the game DTG talked about adding the TGV to,i think it was a UK route.

 

thats southeastern hi speed

 

Really? Interesting.

 

Well, you kept the Focus buyout secret.....

 

"Will become"? Already has become, with Kassel-Würzburg

 

Interestingly sometimes DTG do it the way they should in Train Simulator. Mittenwaldbahn includes the separate BR442 DLC (meaning updates for that DLC will allow you to experience the same changes on Mittenwaldbahn). Additionally, the OBB 2016 is a separate package in Assets, and a separate DLC too.

However I don't think that package has been used for anything other than Mittenwaldbahn. The North London Line, Wutachtalbahn and Medway Valley Line have the same behaviour as the BR442, using the Class 378, BR86 and Class 59 DLC respectively. Weirdly Medway Valley comes with its own and different 59 (being an original /0 from 1985) yet none of the scenarios use it. There are other routes too that work like this but I can't remember them. It is annoying that they're not consistent with this though, because some DLC could have benefitted from this. Every train in Inselbahn for example is reused except for the BR143 I believe, so they could have included the BR155 DLC (they literally could have given that package for free in the pack, I don't know why they made a duplicate), the BR120, a package for the new BR143 and packages for whatever else they needed. Some DLCs have entirely reused trains, like Liverpool To Manchester that easily could have included the Class 158 pack, which had scenarios cut out of and is now effectively useless in TS. The same thing could be said about every route with the BR101 and 294 - just use the European Loco And Asset Pack, they'd already thought of that in 2007.

 

I suspect the guillotine would have been fetched out for that one... "It is a far, far better thing etc."

 

This is awesome news. Focus Entertainment have made some quality AAA games over the years, like Vampyr, A Plagues Tale and most recently Atomic Heart. It’s going to be interesting if they improve the game engine or maybe upgrade TSW to Unreal Engine 5 eventually. Win, win I say!